The question is, why would the government cover up a terrorist attack? Keep in mind, this is during the Bush presidency.
The thought I had was, the country was already angry at anything muzzie, because of 9/11. If this flight was also brought down by muzzie terrorists, you could reasonably expect to have a vendetta against anything Islam to the point we would kill everything related to Islam, up to and including anyone named Al.
IINM, July 1996 was during Klintoon’s 1st term, with 2nd term re-election just around the corner in November. It had to be covered-up, and once it was, Bush had no choice in his 2000 & 2004 terms, but to continue it. That family is joined at the hip with Saudis and their oil. Since we’re a country of laws, a muzzie bloodbath would be bad form, in the world’s eyes, so we suffer and die in silence. My personal opinion would shock you, so I won’t offer it here.